Aspen Avionics MFD granted STC

October 1, 2009

ByIan J. Twombly

Aspen Avionics announced Sept. 30 that it had received a large approved model list of supplemental type certificates (STCs) for its EFD500 multifunction display, EFD1000 MFD, and EWR50 weather receiver.

With the announcement, more than 650 aircraft models are now eligible to install the equipment with an approved STC. The approval is a sign of major progress at the small Albuquerque, N.M.-based manufacturer, who only announced the PFD and MFD two years ago at EAA AirVenture. And the STC approval comes two weeks on the heels of the technical standard order (TSO) approval.

“Aspen’s offering of certified avionics products has increased dramatically, and the unique value of our glass cockpit system can now be fully realized,” said John Uczekaj, president and CEO of Aspen. A representative from the company went on to say that because installing both the PFD and MFD means the aircraft is equipped with redundant systems, the FAA has approved the removal of many standard mechanical gauges.

Although Congress is about to break for its August recess, AOPA members should keep calling their elected officials and asking them to co-sponsor the Pilot's Bill of Rights 2 (PBR2), said AOPA Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Jim Coon.

Mark Scheuer was tired of yelling at his wife across the noisy cockpit of their Grumman Yankee, and he thought there had to be a better way of communicating. PS Engineering Inc. was born out of that necessity and is now celebrating its third decade of forging new ground in cockpit communication technology.